Christ is the Light of the World in this world of darkness! And we who follow Him walk in His Light. When we are in His Light, we have nothing to fear. Darkness then becomes obsolete. Christ has banished the darkness and when we are in His Light, there is no darkness. Christ the Light of the World has conquered darkness and sin. It is vital for us to love the Light and to stay connected to Christ. The moment we walk away from Christ and His Light, we will be engulfed in darkness and sin. Only with God’s Grace can we be connected to the Light of Christ. So, let us walk away from sin and darkness and stay connected to Christ, it is as simple as this. We can stay connected to Christ by praying and being in God’s presence 24 x 7..

The Mass is the pinnacle of prayer. Mass is a Celebration where we celebrate Christ. Christ Jesus died only once on Calvary. At every Mass we go into time and we are present at Calvary. We are there when Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ was betrayed, tormented, tortured and crucified. He died for you and for me. He died for the whole world and for all people. If we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, then Salvation is ours for free. The Mass is a powerful weapon against Satan and his wiles. The whole of heaven is present during Mass with all the angels and saints. At Mass, there are readings and the gospel – The Liturgy of the Word. We have the prayers of the faithful. At the Offertory, the priest offers the whole congregation to God – as we are, including our sinfulness. Liturgy of the Eucharist – When we receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion, God, the Father, blesses us and a lot of graces is given to us so that we can continue to live for Christ and for what He stands for. At Holy Communion, we receive Jesus Christ Himself. Let us pray that Christ whom we receive in Holy Communion will make us a new creation and will make us more and more like Him. I will continue to write about the Mass as and when I feel prompted by the Holy Spirit.

When either, we, our families, our church or our country face huge problems, we must believe that Christ lives and that He knows exactly what we are going through, WE MUST PRAY WITH FAITH and we will get answers.

God is our Shepherd and we Iike sheep have all gone astray, so God laid all our iniquity upon His Son Jesus Christ so that we the sheep would be saved and redeemed. So, let our prayer be ‘ Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my fears from death into life’.

New International Version
Mt 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.

What does this mean? ◄ Isaiah 64:6 ► “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away”.

If we do consider ourselves to be righteous, we definitely cannot compare with God. We are sinful and God is perfect without sin. God created us to be perfect but we are not. So what can we do? We are all called to be perfect – we need to be single eyed – Have our gaze on Jesus Christ.

It is a command of God for us to seek Him first. He is and must be our number One. When He is our Number One,

We will love him and follow His Commandments.

We will try to please Him in every way, instead of waiting for Him to please us
in every way.

We will be ready to make sacrifices and to put our desires last.

We would be eager to study God’s word and to be obedient.

We will be ready to walk the straight and narrow path instead of walking the
broad road.

We will live to love Jesus Christ and to follow Him who is our Lord and Master.

We will love God First and we will love our neighbour as ourselves.

We must die to ourselves and have self control.It is important to live one day at a time – living for Christ Jesus alone. Every day, it is important to pray for grace to live a pure and holy life.

To those who are sick in hospitals, nursing homes, sick at home and in agonising and excruciating pain. Is it possible for such people to praise and thank God. For those who are suffering terrible and excruciating pain, it is highly impossible to be praising God during that time but your love for God is above all others, then your soul is in the Presence of God. That is what is important. Loving God all the time even without saying One Word out loud. There is one thing I would like to tell you all. When you are suffering excruciating pain, and you know that you love God above all else then, I am sure that God is very much aware of how much you love Him and YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE IN HIS EMBRACE. Suffering, Happy, Sad, Laughing, Dancing, Crying, Smiling – whatever you may be doing – if you love God above all else, you can be sure that you will be FOREVER IN HIS EMBRACE and that is the safest place to be at all times.

Do you have something on your mind that is troubling you and are you feeling lost and forsaken or is something happening in your life that you cannot handle. Be still for awhile and become aware that Jesus Christ, the Son of God is with you. He loved you so much that He died for you. He then rose from the dead, is now seated at the right hand of God and He is interceding for you to His Heavenly Father. Leave your burden at His Feet and trust Him to take care of your problems.

Every time we make the Stations of the Cross, are we making the journey that Jesus made on that fateful day, when he was condemned by Pilate to die on a cross, 2000 years ago? Well, Jesus Christ died and he rose again victoriously, 2000 years ago. He is now seated at the Right hand of God and He is constantly interceding for us. So, why do we make the Stations of the Cross atleast once week, during the Lenten Season?

Well, for me, I journey along with Jesus on that fateful day. I journey along with His Mother Mary. I journey with her as I can imagine how broken she was to see her only son being condemned, scourged, crowned with thorns, robed as a king and mocked as ‘The King of the Jews” and finally He was crucified and He died between two thieves. The Son of God, the Son of Mary who was God and Man – who knew no sin, became SIN by carrying the sins of the world on His shoulders. He suffered and died such a humiliating death on the cross BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR YOU AND ME. He was prepared to die for us, so that we might LIVE forever with Him in Heaven.

The Old Rugged Cross by Don Meon

What happens as I journey with Jesus and Mother Mary on that fateful day? I relive the horror of that day. I look into the eyes of Jesus as He carries his cross. There is so much of pain in his eyes. He suffers physical pain, pain of rejection, humiliation, he feels alone as he walks to his death. Crowds are jeering at him women are crying for Him. He meets his mother and their eyes meet. No words pass from their lips but their hearts are wrenched in two. Which mother on earth has witnessed her innocent son who committed no sin suffer and die such a humiliating death though He was Divine and yet Man. No mother on earth, only Mother Mary.

On the cross His greatest suffering was when He carried the sins of the world on His shoulders, He cried, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME. You see Sin and God cannot be united and hence Jesus felt forsaken by His Father in Heaven. Then Jesus said besides other things, IT IS FINISHED and He gave up HIS SPIRIT.

WHEN I look at Jesus dying on the cross, I know that after I have journeyed with Jesus and His mother, I cannot be the same person. I know now that JESUS CHRIST has given me abundant graces to become a better person. I have learnt to be ready to accept humiliation, suffering, ridicule etc all for the love of Jesus. JESUS WAS GOD AND MAN AND HE WAS SINLESS AND HE SUFFERED AND DIED FOR THE WHOLE WORLD. SO I MUST ALSO BE READY TO BE LIKE MY LORD AND MASTER.

Every Christian is persecuted in different ways and we must be ready to face persecution and so journeying with Jesus during His Most terrible Passion and Death is the best way for us to be strengthened TO BE LIKE OUR MASTER – JESUS CHRIST.

So my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ REJOICE AND BE GLAD WHEN YOU ARE PERSECUTED FOR JESUS CHRIST ROSE VICTORIOUSLY FROM THE DEAD AND HE IS NOW SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER. SO, WE WILL ALSO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE WHEN WE FACE PERSECUTION BUT WE MUST FACE IT WITH LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IN OUR HEARTS TOWARDS OUR PERSECUTORS.

By Florence D’Costa – My dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, my plea to you during this Lenten Season is to RETURN TO CHRIST. Each and every one of us have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. No one can say,”I am without sin.” Jesus Christ suffered so much humiliation, pain, torment and was betrayed by one of his own disciples. SIN IS UGLY and it is important for us to walk away from Sin and Ugliness. Jesus Christ is Beautiful, for though He was man, He was also God.

During this Lenten Season, Christ Jesus is calling us to walk away from sin and to walk into His arms. It is very important for each of us to examine our conscience every night and to Say A Sorry Prayer or an Act of Contrition before we go to bed. Many of us also commit sins of Omission. There are many things that God is calling us to do but we simply turn a blind eye to.

Christ Jesus is inviting us to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this Lenten Season so that our minds, hearts and souls would be purified. Prayer is having a Conversation or a meeting with Christ Jesus. Why not make it a point to meet Him everyday for awhile? Let us try to MAKE A COMPLETE TURN AROUND AND WALK TOWARDS HIM. Let us look into His eyes and say, “I am sorry Jesus for hurting you and for sinning against you. Please do forgive me.” If we do say this simple prayer, we will surely receive enough grace to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is so very important, for the sins that we confess will surely be forgiven and a GREAT PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING WILL DESCEND INTO OUR HEARTS.

As I am a Catechist, many children have told me that they are afraid to go for confession because they feel that the priest will have a bad opinion of them when they confess their sins to him. So, I told them to confess their sins to the priest whom they trust, not that any priest would regard you as bad or label you as a SINNER. I also told them that in the Confessional, Jesus Christ and the priest awaits them and that it is JESUS CHRIST WHO FORGIVES SINS and the priest gives them absolution.

I ask the children as to how they feel if they commit sins and they said that they feel unhappy when they sin. So I told them that it is important for them to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation for Jesus Christ would forgive them their sins through the Priest and that once forgiven, they would be HAPPY ONCE AGAIN.

So, my dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, what is stopping you FROM BEING FORGIVEN? WHAT IS STOPPING YOU FROM OBTAINING HAPPINESS?

Even if you have not gone for Confession in years, say 10, 20, 30 or 40 years, the time has come for you to BE FORGIVEN AND TO EXPERIENCE THE CLOSENESS OF JESUS CHRIST. Try approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation and you will find that the burden that you have been carrying for a long time, will be taken away by Jesus Christ and He will place HIS PEACE IN YOUR HEART.

PLEASE DO GIVE IT A TRY. GO FOR CONFESSION AND THEN RECEIVE THE BODY OF CHRIST WHEN YOU GO FOR MASS. YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE ON TOP OF THE WORLD.

I do remember the words of this Song. It is a Pop Song but we can sing this Song to Jesus Christ. The words are :

I am on the top of the World looking
Down on Creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the Love that I found
Ever since you’ve been around
Your Love puts me
At the top of the World!

Well, Jesus Christ can put each one of us ON TOP OF THE WORLD and give us PEACE THAT SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

About

Hi! My name is Florence D’Costa. I am a Catechist in my Parish in Melbourne, Australia. I also consider myself to be an evangeliser and hence, I have this great yearning in my heart to Evangelise and to talk about Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I have started this blog to express some of the things that I think is important and I hope that my readers both Catholics, Christians and others, would benefit.

I have studied scripture for five years and I was trained in teaching scripture. I have in turn taught scripture for one year to a group of the faithful who have been yearning to learn the Word of God. I was also trained in performing skits, write poems, stage on the spot dramas from stories in the bible and evangelise through dance and song.

I am also an Actress and a Singer and I belong to two Theatre Groups – COG Theatre Group and Amuse Threatre Group. We, in COG Theatre perform Christian Musicals to promote Jesus Christ. We train and teach cast members to become better performers and also to realise that they have been created for a specific purpose in life. In Amuse Theatre Group, we help cast members to become better people with a purpose and aim in life. When we stage plays, we reach out to the audience with a message which would stir them to become better people – people with a purpose in life!

By profession, I am a Civil Celebrant and I help people to celebrate any occasion.

I have a talent to make people happy. Happiness and joy come from Our Lord Jesus Christ. What I have freely received, I freely give. I have a flair for writing and I will try my best to help people to the best of my ability.

DAILY OFFERING PRAYER

God, our Father, I offer You my day. I offer you my prayers, thoughts,words, actions, joys, and sufferings in union with the Heart of Jesus, who continues to offer Himself in the Eucharist for the Salvation of the World. May the Holy Spirit, who guided Jesus, be my Guide and my Strength today so that I may witness to your love. With Mary, the Mother of our Lord and of the Church, I pray for all Apostles of Prayer and for this month's intentions by the Holy Father. Amen

Pope's Prayer Intention - - Young People: That young people may respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.|read the reflection|

Urgent Intention - Landslide Victims/Peace: Victims of the landslide in Colombia and peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Venezuela, and Paraguay.

PRAYER OF ST ANTHONY OF PADUA

(Parents could say this prayer in their child's room and they could sprinkle their room with Holy Water if their child has nightmares. The same could be done even if teenagers or adults have nightmares.)

"Behold the Cross of the Lord! Begone, you evil powers! The
Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered.
Allelulia!"

A Litany of St. Michael

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
[Repeat pray for us after each invocation]
Holy Mary, Queen of the Angels,
St. Michael, the Archangel,
Most glorious attendant of the Triune Divinity,
Standing at the right of the altar of Incense,
Ambassador of Paradise,
Glorious Prince of the Heavenly armies,
Leader of the Angelic hosts,
The standard-bearer of God’s armies,
Defender of Divine glory,
First defender of the Kingship of Christ,
Strength of God,
Invincible Prince and warrior,
Angel of Peace,
Guide of Christ,
Guardian of the Catholic Faith,
Champion of God’s people,
Guardian Angel of the Eucharist,
Defender of the Church,
Protector of the Sovereign Pontiff,
Angel of Catholic action,
Powerful intercessor of Christians,
Bravest defender of those who hope in God,
Guardian of our souls and bodies,
Healer of the sick,
Help of those in their agony,
Consoler of the Souls in Purgatory,
God’s messenger for the souls of the just,
Terror of the evil spirits,
Victorious in battle against evil,
Guardian and Patron of the universal Church,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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TRADITIONAL DAILY OFFERING

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,I offer You my
prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart; the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

A PRAYER OF BLESSING

The Lord Bless you and protect you;

The Lord make his face to shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Amen.

A SORRY PRAYER

O my God, I am sorry for all my sins
Because they displease Thee who art all good
And deserving of all my love
And with Thy help I will sin no more.

Prayer to St. Michael

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.